Archbishop McCarthy's "guy behind the guys"

"I've never heard of a baseball program at the high school level that has a director of baseball operations," DeMatties said.

That is, before this season -- thanks to the guy who hired the former Miami Beach and Stranahan coach: ex-Marlin Alex Fernandez, who took that very "director of baseball operations" position last fall for the Mavericks, after his son entered Archbishop McCarthy as a freshman (Fernandez also owns two StrikeZone stores, one of which is across the street from the school).

That new position has bred results -- and very visible ones. Not only did the Monsignor Pace graduate hire an experienced coaching staff (DeMatties was drafted by the Mets, while assistant Nelson Santovenia played for the Expos, White Sox and Royals), but he brought a new ballpark with him.